Process for examining a loss of media of a motor vehicle as well as motor vehicle and system for implementing such a process

Abstract

A process is provided for examining a loss of media of a motor vehicle. By use of a first camera arranged on a motor vehicle, a driving route in the area in front of a motor vehicle that is driving in the travel direction and is to be monitored is scanned. The route behind the motor vehicle to be monitored is scanned by way of a second camera arranged on a motor vehicle. When scanning the driving route, a forward image and a rearward image are acquired. The two images are compared for detecting a medium lost by the motor vehicle to be monitored. The corresponding medium can be classified. Appropriate actions can be automatically carried out corresponding to the classification of the medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for examining a loss of media of a motor vehicle, the process comprising the acts of:
 scanning, via a first camera, a route in an area in front of the motor vehicle that driving in a travel direction and is to be monitored; 
 scanning, via a second camera, the route behind the motor vehicle to be monitored, wherein 
 at least a forward image and a rearward image are acquired via the scanning of the route; 
 comparing the forward and the rearward images in order to detect the loss of media by the motor vehicle being monitored, 
 wherein comparing the forward and the rearward images comprises aligning the forward and rearward images, via a characteristic analysis, to coincide with one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 before the forward and rearward images are compared with one another, the forward and rearward images are mutually adapted with respect to one or more of: 
 resolution, 
 contrast, 
 color representation, and/or 
 perspective. 
 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a time and/or location stamp, respectively, is added to each individual image, which stamp indicates when the respective image was acquired and/or the location where the respective image was acquired. 
 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the forward and rearward images are acquired by at least two cameras, which are arranged at the same motor vehicle. 
 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the forward and rearward images are acquired by at least two cameras, which are arranged at different motor vehicles, the images being transmitted to a server, on which they are compared. 
 
     
     
       6. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 each of the first camera and second camera comprises an optical camera, an infrared camera, a laser scanner, or a radar sensor. 
 
     
     
       7. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein
 before the comparison of the forward and rearward images, in each case, a rearward image or a forward image consisting of a quantity of several rear or forward images are assigned to a forward image or a rearward image. 
 
     
     
       8. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one front camera and one rear camera for scanning of a driving route, and a control device which is configured to implement the process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       9. The motor vehicle according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one front camera and one rear camera comprises an optical camera, an infrared camera, a laser scanner, or a radar sensor. 
     
     
       10. A system for implementing the process according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 at least two cameras, which are arranged on a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a data connection to a server situated outside the motor vehicle, which server compares the forward and rearward images. 
 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the two cameras are arranged on two different motor vehicles. 
 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two cameras comprises an optical camera, an infrared camera, a laser scanner, or a radar sensor. 
     
     
       13. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein in response to detecting a predefined medium, the method further comprises at least one of:
 informing a vehicle driver of the monitored vehicle; 
 informing a public authority; 
 informing traffic participants by car-to-car information, light signals and/or honking signals. 
 
     
     
       14. A process for examining a loss of media of a motor vehicle, the process comprising the acts of:
 scanning, via a first camera, a route in an area in front of the motor vehicle that driving in a travel direction and is to be monitored; 
 scanning, via a second camera, the route behind the motor vehicle to be monitored, wherein 
 at least a forward image and a rearward image are acquired via the scanning of the route: 
 comparing the forward and the rearward images in order to detect the loss of media by the motor vehicle being monitored; and 
 producing a differential image for the comparison, wherein objects in the differential image and/or corresponding objects in the rearward image are analyzed. 
 
     
     
       15. The process according to  claim 14 , wherein
 when analyzing the objects, a shape and/or spectral analysis is carried out. 
 
     
     
       16. The process according to  claim 14 , wherein
 several rearward images, which each show the object to be analyzed, are analyzed jointly via triangulation, so that a three-dimensional description of a surface of the object is produced. 
 
     
     
       17. The process according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the first camera and second camera comprises an optical camera, an infrared camera, a laser scanner, or a radar sensor.